Habitat - Indoor :: Jamal got a new house!

[spot_skater]

Hey all. I haven't been around in a bit, but I thought a little update on Jamal's status might interest a few of you. Well, it's exciting for me at least!!

I picked up a 55 gal long aquarium today, with screen, and here's a pic of it!


It's a pretty big jump from his other 10 gal tank, but I think he will like it and it should last me at least a few years. He managed to escape from his old set up:



So I figured it was time for a change, plus I got a good deal on the stuff!

I'm waiting for an Eheim filter to come in the mail, and I will be off to buy a new dock for this tank some time this week. I also picked up some UVA/UVB bulbs for the dock and the lamp you can see in the pic.

James

[xsavingsaturdayx]

Nice! But the holes on the screen look too tiny for any UVB to come through. You can toss the screen out, or make the holes bigger. If not, he will not receive any UVB.

[spot_skater]

^Really? They are probably about 1/4"x1/4." Is it really necessary to open them up? If it is I have no problem doing it, just trying to get some info. I'm still kinda new to all this!

Thanks!

[xsavingsaturdayx]

It looks like the holes are too small for him to get any UVB, screens/glass/plastic filter out a lot, if not all UVB, which is why I kind of dont like them. You can make the holes bigger, or take out the screen, it's your choice. But boy what a nice upgrade huh? I'm sure jamal's gonna love it

[megcornell]

Does anyone know where the idea that UVB can't penetrate a certain diameter hole came from? I'm just curious as to why that is....

[steve]

I think there was test conducted somewhere. I have done my own unscientific testing (with a UV meter and lots of time) and screens do block a great deal. The results will vary with screen spacing and distance to the surface, i.e. basking area.

I suppose during this heat wave I can take some measurements

[SpotsMama]

Jamal's going to be one happy camper! Congratulations on a nice (emerging) setup!

Megcornell, the loss of UVB when there's a screen has actually been measured. Here's a discussion of the subject:

http://www.uvguide.co.uk/fluorescenttubemeshtests.htm

On the diameter of hole, I've seen the rule of thumb about the 1/2" holes in a couple of places. Who knows where it came from - probably someone just figured out that holes that large wouldn't block many rays. Here's what our site has to say: "...screens with grids under 1/2" can obstruct a good portion of UVB rays. "

[steve]

Thanks SpotsMama, that will save me so much time

[spot_skater]

Thanks for the tips guys! Tomorrow after work maybe I will cut some bigger holes in the screen. I kind of want to keep the screen JUST in case he tries to escape again, it will be more preventative!

I picked up some plants, a new stick on thermometer for the side of the tank, and a new dock for him today. He's on the dock right now, under the lamp, basking in it. I felt bad, I haven't had a dock for him since he escaped almost two weeks ago! Hopefully things will work out. He is still eating (A LOT!) and is very fast wn he swims and stuff. I'm considering getting another baby turtle (I can get them from China Town in NYC, which is where Jamal is from) and putting another in the mix. I also want to add some more plants and another lamp so that two sides of the aquarium can be lit by the same type of light. One is the basking spot lamp from above, and the other is a halogen desk type lamp from the other side.

Also, I have a heater made for a 25 gal tank. Right now the temps in the tank are around 79-81, and the heater is set at 79, so it seems to be doing it's job well. Is there any need for me to go with a larger heater?

Thanks for the kind words and I'll keep you all posted with some more pics as I keep improving his home!

James

[megcornell]

Spotsmama you always seem to know where the link to any topic is, I'm so impressed! Thanks

[SpotsMama]

Well, megcornell, it's always been my practice to cite people smarter than me! It's a skill learned through necessity!

[spot_skater]

My Eheim 2213 Classic canister filter ($70 to my door!!!) came in the mail today! It was kind of time consuming to set up, being that it was the first time I've ever done something like this, but after following the directions it worked like a charm. Here's some pics.


The filter itself: "Double Tap Valves" that make it so there's no mess when it's time to clean out the filter media and stuff, and I'm keeping it in his old 10 gal tank just in case there is ever a slight leak.


How I set up the suction and output pipes . The output pipe is in the back, and the suction is in the front, cause that's where the indentation at the top of my tank is for a pipe to fit in.


And a full shot of my set up. I plan on getting him some more plants some time in the near future, but for now things seem okay. Yes I still have my smaller filter in there, and I plan on keeping it in there, just to keep the water moving well.

[WyredHardware]

Hey Spot.
That Eheim filter you got is a good one. I have the same one and the dam thing is bullet proof. It took a fall from my stand to the floor while running... lucky for me i had enough extra hose that it didn't tub on it. Lucky for me again that it didn't miss a beat. I would recommend setting it up for bio filtration. I got mine set up and I noticed a big difference with algae control and water quality. I am using half a liter of the med sized rings and then the blue corse pad then 1l of substrate then the white pad then a carbon. Just to remember to rinse the substrate really good before you toss it into the canister. You got a great deal on yours. I got mine on sale and it was 75 I think.

[spot_skater]

Yeah, I've heard good things about the Eheim's, and my step-dad who is into salt-water aquariums highly recommended them to me.

Regarding the filtration, I'm pretty sure that's what I'm using, exactly. I did rinse everything pretty thoroughly before I got everything running.

And these filters are as quiet as everyone says. The only noisy thing is the water coming from the outlet tube.

James

[WyredHardware]

I KNOW... I have a tinny apartment so my living room is my bedroom. The tank is about 3 feet from my head and I just hear the water coming out of the spray bar. I am very impressed with it.